Alan Boswell wins £1.3m contract
Norfolk-based insurance broker, Alan Boswell is celebrating a year of spectacular, recession-busting business growth with a major new contract and an additional stylish new office complex in Norwich.
Key staff appointments have also been announced.
One of the top 25 independent insurance brokers in the country, Alan Boswell has beaten off stiff competition to win a deal to provide a healthcare scheme for the 2,500-member Anglia Farmers co-operative.
The contract will turnover £1.3m in premiums and represents the largest single piece of business the group has won since chairman Mr Alan Boswell started the business 26 years ago.
It's a coup for the business which recorded a growth rate of 12% in 2009, putting the business 7% ahead of the average annual growth rate for UK independent brokers.
The contract builds on an already flourishing business partnership between Alan Boswell and Honingham-based Anglia Farmers, the largest agricultural purchasing co-operative in the UK.
“We are proud to have further strengthened our business links with them,” said Mr Boswell.
Meanwhile, the interior-designed centre at 100 Prince of Wales Road, which is about to celebrate its first anniversary, houses the company's personal insurance and buy-to-let divisions. The new Business Insurance Centre team joined them on May 10.
Alan Boswell is delighted to have added a second city office to the group, which has its head office in Thorpe Road, Norwich, as well as bases in Bury St Edmunds and Attleborough.
Mr Boswell has also announced two new key appointments at the group and welcomes Chris Greaves as Commercial Sales Manager and Sharon Coombs-Hoar who joins the team as Customer Care Manager.
Mr Greaves said “I have always had a huge admiration and respect for the way this group has operated and, when the opportunity came along to join, it was too good to turn down.
“The insurance industry is currently going through the “soft” part of a periodic cycle and in these circumstances most brokers retrench and just try to hold on to what they have. “When the market becomes more favourable we will be in a position to expand even more rapidly. “The company is going from strength to strength. We are in a healthy position and can only get stronger,” he added. Sharon Coombs-Hoar brings 20 years experience as a loss adjuster to her new post at Alan Boswell. “My role involves liaising between our clients,insurers and loss adjusters when a claim arises and providing support and advice throughout the claim. I essentially deal with large and complex losses; my role within the group is unique.” The Alan Boswell Group, named as one of the top 25 independent insurance brokers in the UK in the Insurance Age Top 100, has not ruled out the possibility of opening further offices across East Anglia in the near future. Mr Boswell said “The group remains acquisitive. We are taking on staff and we plan to expand the geographical footprint of the business.” Following a year-long interior refurbishment of the distinguished building, which dates back to the 1900s, the new 5,500sq ft office now accommodates more than 30 members of staff who have been lucky enough to move in to the new showpiece office. Designers have created a light, bright layout in which to house the personal insurance (home, motor, travel) and the buy-to-let divisions. The group currently employs 160 staff and Mr Boswell is confident that more employees will be recruited to complement the existing team. “We regularly take on more people as and when we need them and we plan to continue growing steadily over the coming months, very much as we have done for the last quarter of a century,” he said. As Chris Greaves and Sharon Coombs-Hoar settle in to life at the Alan Boswell Group, they do so alongside another notable addition to the team – but this one comes complete with four legs and a trunk! Jemima was painted by local award-winning artist Susan Gunn, wife of former Norwich City Manager Bryan Gunn. The elephant has set up home in the new office so she can be enjoyed by everyone who visits. “Jemima is very popular with both staff and visitors and provides a spectacular final touch to a superb makeover of a tremendous historic building. It's lovely to see the building given a new lease of life and a contemporary environment where people can really enjoy working. “Anyone who fell in love with Jemima is welcome to pay her a return visit in her new home,” said Mr Boswell.
Jemima the elephant was the much-loved star of the city's inspirational Go Elephants! charity campaign. She was purchased by Mr Boswell at the subsequent auction, commanding the top bid of £25,000 for the CLIC Sargent and Born Free Foundation charities.
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